Suggestions on a .44 magnum 4" barrel revolver?

I have the 629 4 inch and would highly recommend it. I carried it last year while bowhunting for bear, and was very happy to have it. Here's a pic.



It's not overwhelmingly heavy, very accurate, and IMO it holsters very comfortably.

If you're a handloader, you can work up comfortable loads for it. If you want lighter commercial loads for self defense, Winchester .44 Special Silvertips also fit the bill nicely.

Good luck finding cheap ammo. It's one of the main reasons I started handloading. Winchester Whitebox around here is about 20 bucks / 50 at Walmart. Occasionally 15 or so on sale.

For years, my primary trail gun was a frosted stainless/taper barrel 629-2 Mountain Gun. It was not as much fun to shoot for extended sessions as my 7 1/2" SRH, but it was MUCH nicer to pack.

It developed endshake issues at around 4000 rounds, but other than that it was pretty tight for 8000+ rounds. It was the first to go when I started selling the revo's, unfortunately. Of course, it's now the one I want back the most.

My only suggestion would be to stick with a 629-4 or later model. These have the endurance package.
I have a 629-4 Mountain Gun. Great woods bumming guns.

Look at a Ruger Redhawk.

The -4 is a version number, not the barrel length.

Whatever you do don't get a 329PD. I fell for that last year and my wrist STILL hasn't quite recovered from that little ordeal. It's fed .44 Specials ONLY now.


As for ammo, I feed my 629 Blazer for the most part, and carry Silvertips.
Blazer isn't too bad if you catch it on sale.

Reloading isn't that daunting of a task. I'm a mechanical stumble bum but I taught myself to reload and haven't blown a gun up or myself in the last 31 years of reloading.

Join a pistol club there is usually someone there who reloads who will help you get started. If not that then get a video reloading VHS or CD. They will teach you the basics.

Careful shopping can produce a lot of good equipment within a reasonable period of time.

I own several 44 Mags and 90 percent of my shooting is with Keith lead bullets at 1000-1100fps.

It's a great hobby that helps you in your real love-- shooting and shooting well.

Any idea where I can find cheap ammo for it? Is it pretty expensive ammo?

Click to expand...

Load your own: you'll shoot more for the same amount of money, and will be able to develop the most accurate rounds for your individual revolver.

If Ruger made a 4" Redhawk, I'd recommend it.
That being said, I have a 4" 629-6, and it's probably my favorite revolver right now.

For cheap ammo, I can get MagTech 240-grain ammo (full power BTW), for roughly $20/50. Good, accurate stuff.
As for carry ammo, I carry 240-gr Hydra-Shoks. They run just about 1040 fps from the 4" barrel. Very good, very accurate.

As for reloading, the cheapest way to go would be the Lee anniversary kit. You can get it, Lee's handloading book, and a set of dies for about $100+shipping from Midway. It's easy and the instructions are easy to follow. You can always upgrade later, or juist start out with a top-notch kit like the RCBS Rockchucker kits or even a Dillon AT 500 or RL550 kit.

Best thing to do would be to follow the advice to find someone who reloads and see if they will let you watch them, and perhaps load soem yourself, so you can see what it's all about and if you'll enjoy it (some people plain don't like it, to others, it's as enjoyable as shooting is).

M629-6 - despite my penchant for older Smiths - this is one good and tough revo for .44 ... I cannot really fault it. I added CT grips.

Got the same one...damn it stings with my buddies 320 grain hard cast bear loads...

WildctsAlaska

"...I can afford..." Stop right there. Go buy it. You're a big kid and firearms are big kid's toys. If I've learned anything in 30 odd years, it's if you wait to buy something you want, it'll cost you more. The Smith 629 is a well made, reliable firearm.
"...So much to learn, so much equipment to buy..." Nonsense. About $300US will buy you an RCBS beginner's kit including dies, shell holder and a manual. Any assistance you need is free on this and nearly every other forum.

It may cost more but skip the single stage press its slow and tedious. Get a Dillion 550 and never look back. Great product I can crank out 500 rounds an hour. Also the 629 4 inch is a great gun. Wish I would have never sold mine.
Pat

I would suggest you take a look at the Dan Wesson 4". With Dan Wessons you can also change to 6" through 10" barrels and back again if you desire. The Dan Wesson 4" is larger than the S&W, but that sure helps when shooting. The Dan Wesson is also the most accurate out of the box DA revolver out there on average. DW's are also as strong as the Ruger SRH and much stronger than any other 44 revolver out there. As others here have said, the S&W can be a handful to shoot with full house rounds (especially heavy bullets) and will shoot loose with a steady diet of heavy rounds. In my experience, shooting 44 mag rounds in the Dan Wesson is in the same general comfort zone as shooting 44 special rounds in the Mod 29.

Dan Wessons are worth a look anyway.

Roll Tide

I got a Ruger SRH 9-1/2". It's butt-ugly and handles like a brick. It's also accurate and can eat armageddon loads. I'll always consider myself a S&W man, but for the earthquake loads, you can't go wrong with the Ruger.

War Eagle nod to you, rolltide

Richard,
No matter who we cheer for on that certain Saturday in Nov., it seems that we both live up to our state motto when it comes to gun ownership:

With all due respect'
Roll Tide

my last used gun purchase was a 4" m29, blue. is a pussycat to shoot if i dont put Ruger loads in it.

reloading must be simple for a dummy like me learned it from a manual. an excellent hobby, for it requires a level of concentration that puts day to day probs in the backseat, and there is the satisfaction of shooting your own. i encourage all shooters to reload. then, it gives you something to do when the wind howls and it rains, sleets, snows, whatever. gets you away from the boob tube. oh, tight, but not too tight a crimp on mag loads.

if you need advice, there is a whole herd of ppl on this board that knows a bunch more than me and are more than willing to help. you can get going for a hundred and if you dont like it, you will know why and can present your views from experience. Lee makes good, not top, stuff and will get you into it cheaply. his reloading manual has an excellent chapter on adjusting your dies. that alone is worth the price to a newbie, or, an oldie like me.